Enduro World Series mountain bikers heap praise on Derby trails

The planet’s top enduro mountain bikers have given the Derby trails a ringing endorsement with many hoping the sport’s world series will make a return visit next year.

A month after descending on the North-East mountain bike Mecca, the Enduro World Series has moved on to Portugal but its fleet is still singing the praises of its maiden Australian race.

Riders including round winners Isabeau Coudurier and Wyn Masters led the chorus on Facebook and in Spoke magazine.

“The EWS in Tasmania was for me one of the best race I've ever done,” said Coudurier, the Frenchwoman who burst into tears when her breakthrough victory was announced.

“The landscape, the nice people, the wildlife and the trails were amazing. The work that has been done on the trails was simply incredible and the race day ran very smoothly thanks to the marshals and many volunteers.

“The crowd was also massive and very enthusiastic which was a true help to maintain a positive mind in such hard conditions. Tasmania was a blast and I will always remember this race!”

Kiwi Rae Morrison said: “Tasmania was an incredible event. Not only the race tracks that were the perfect combination of fast, flowy and technical, but also the venue in the remote location of Derby.”